Courtney Combs
Encyclopedia
Courtney Combs is a Republican member of the Ohio House of Representatives
, representing the 54th District since 2004. He is the Chairman of the House Transportation, Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee.
, Combs served on Hamilton City Council
and was Butler County Commissioner
from 1986-2004. He is a is a licensed Realtor, and is a broker of Combs Group Realty.
for the Fourth District of the Ohio Senate
, he instead filed for the Ohio House. In another turn of events that expedited his career at the Statehouse, Greg Jolivette
who had decided to run for Combs' Commission seat, resigned early so the two could simultaneously swap seats. He was sworn into the House on January 21, 2004. Combs faced no opposition to retain his seat in 2004.
In 2006, Combs won reelection against Democrats Kenneth Keith with 57.16% of the vote. In 2008, he won a third full term, again against Keith, with 57.04% of the vote.
With his reelection in 2010 over Democrat Bruce Carter with 62.2% of the vote, Combs will be Dean of the House of Representatives in the 129th General Assembly. Speaker of the House William G. Batchelder
has named Combs as a member of the Republican majority caucus' Policy Committee. He also serves on the committees of Insurance, State Government and Elections and its Subcommittee on Redistricting, and Transportation, Public Safety and Homeland Security (as Chairman). Combs also serves on the Butler County Transportation Improvement District Board of Trustees; and on the Turnpike Legislative Review
Committee.
On May 10, 2011, Combs announced that he would seek a seat in the Ohio Senate
, following Gary Cates
resignation.
s. With the introduction of John Kasich
's biennium budget, the number of vouchers available for charter schools has quadrupled. Both initiatives have come with criticism from teachers' unions.
Combs has also introduced a bill that would designate Lentil
as the State Children's Book and make Robert McCloskey
the State Children's Author.
As chairman of the Transportation, Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee, Combs garnered unanimous support for a bill that would ban texting while driving
, and voted the bill out of the committee.
A proponent of the immigration
reform, Combs has introduced legislation to show Ohio’s support for the state of Arizona in its legal battle with the federal government over Arizona’s efforts to control illegal immigration. Opponents of the measure says it's overreaching and amounts to racial profiling, but supporters say it is a necessary step in combatting illegal immigrants.
Ohio House of Representatives
The Ohio House of Representatives is the lower house of the Ohio General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Ohio; the other house of the bicameral legislature being the Ohio Senate....
, representing the 54th District since 2004. He is the Chairman of the House Transportation, Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee.
Career
A graduate of Miami UniversityMiami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
, Combs served on Hamilton City Council
Hamilton, Ohio
Hamilton is a city in Butler County, southwestern Ohio, United States. The population was 62,447 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Butler County. The city is part of the Cincinnati metropolitan area....
and was Butler County Commissioner
Butler County, Ohio
Butler County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of 2010, the population was 368,130. Its county seat is Hamilton. It is named for General Richard Butler, who died in 1791 fighting Indians in northern Ohio. Butler's army marched out of Fort Hamilton, where the city of...
from 1986-2004. He is a is a licensed Realtor, and is a broker of Combs Group Realty.
Ohio House of Representatives
While Combs initially had planned to run against Gary CatesGary Cates
Gary Cates is a Republican politician who served in the Ohio General Assembly. He was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 1995 to 2004, and a member of the Ohio Senate from 2005 to 2011.-Life and career:...
for the Fourth District of the Ohio Senate
Ohio Senate
The Ohio State Senate is the upper house of the Ohio General Assembly, the legislative body for the U.S. state of Ohio. There are 33 State Senators. The state legislature meets in the state capital, Columbus. The President of the Senate presides over the body when in session, and is currently Tom...
, he instead filed for the Ohio House. In another turn of events that expedited his career at the Statehouse, Greg Jolivette
Greg Jolivette
Greg Jolivette is a politician in the U.S. state of Ohio: a current Butler County Commissioner, he has served in the Ohio House of Representatives, representing the Cincinnati area....
who had decided to run for Combs' Commission seat, resigned early so the two could simultaneously swap seats. He was sworn into the House on January 21, 2004. Combs faced no opposition to retain his seat in 2004.
In 2006, Combs won reelection against Democrats Kenneth Keith with 57.16% of the vote. In 2008, he won a third full term, again against Keith, with 57.04% of the vote.
With his reelection in 2010 over Democrat Bruce Carter with 62.2% of the vote, Combs will be Dean of the House of Representatives in the 129th General Assembly. Speaker of the House William G. Batchelder
William G. Batchelder
William G. Batchelder, III is an American lawyer, judge, and politician from the U.S. state of Ohio. He is a Republican.He is the husband of Judge Alice Batchelder, currently a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.-Early life and education:Batchelder was born...
has named Combs as a member of the Republican majority caucus' Policy Committee. He also serves on the committees of Insurance, State Government and Elections and its Subcommittee on Redistricting, and Transportation, Public Safety and Homeland Security (as Chairman). Combs also serves on the Butler County Transportation Improvement District Board of Trustees; and on the Turnpike Legislative Review
Committee.
On May 10, 2011, Combs announced that he would seek a seat in the Ohio Senate
Ohio Senate
The Ohio State Senate is the upper house of the Ohio General Assembly, the legislative body for the U.S. state of Ohio. There are 33 State Senators. The state legislature meets in the state capital, Columbus. The President of the Senate presides over the body when in session, and is currently Tom...
, following Gary Cates
Gary Cates
Gary Cates is a Republican politician who served in the Ohio General Assembly. He was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 1995 to 2004, and a member of the Ohio Senate from 2005 to 2011.-Life and career:...
resignation.
Initiatives and positions
In his fourth and final term, Combs introduced legislation that will lift the cap on online charter schoolCharter school
Charter schools are primary or secondary schools that receive public money but are not subject to some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each school's charter...
s. With the introduction of John Kasich
John Kasich
John Richard Kasich is the 69th and current Governor of Ohio. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing from 1983 to 2001...
's biennium budget, the number of vouchers available for charter schools has quadrupled. Both initiatives have come with criticism from teachers' unions.
Combs has also introduced a bill that would designate Lentil
Lentil
The lentil is an edible pulse. It is a bushy annual plant of the legume family, grown for its lens-shaped seeds...
as the State Children's Book and make Robert McCloskey
Robert McCloskey
Robert McCloskey was an American author and illustrator of children's books. McCloskey wrote and illustrated eight books, two of which won the Caldecott Medal, the American Library Association's annual award of distinction for children's book illustration.Many of McCloskey's books were set on the...
the State Children's Author.
As chairman of the Transportation, Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee, Combs garnered unanimous support for a bill that would ban texting while driving
Driving
Driving is the controlled operation and movement of a land vehicle, such as a car, truck or bus.Although direct operation of a bicycle and a mounted animal are commonly referred to as riding, such operators are legally considered drivers and are required to obey the rules of the road...
, and voted the bill out of the committee.
A proponent of the immigration
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
reform, Combs has introduced legislation to show Ohio’s support for the state of Arizona in its legal battle with the federal government over Arizona’s efforts to control illegal immigration. Opponents of the measure says it's overreaching and amounts to racial profiling, but supporters say it is a necessary step in combatting illegal immigrants.